12 March 2003

Analysis of IP over Analysis of IP over power lines in power lines in

conjunction with conjunction with ADSL as a rapid ADSL as a rapid

network network deployment deployment

package.package.David MackieDavid Mackie

Supervisor: Prof. P. ClaytonSupervisor: Prof. P. Clayton

Power Line Communication Power Line Communication (PLC)(PLC)

““IP-over-Power”IP-over-Power” TransmissionTransmission of data across existing power of data across existing power

circuitscircuits Special applications in the past:Special applications in the past:

Street lighting & Geyser controlStreet lighting & Geyser control Door-bells and baby monitorsDoor-bells and baby monitors

Relatively new and not in wide use to Relatively new and not in wide use to provide broadband networksprovide broadband networks

Up-and-coming, with Eskom showing an Up-and-coming, with Eskom showing an interestinterest

PLC (2)PLC (2)

Growing demand for bandwidthGrowing demand for bandwidth South African ContextSouth African Context Second Network Operator (SNO)Second Network Operator (SNO) ““Last Mile” alternativeLast Mile” alternative

Protected from free market forceProtected from free market force

““Putting little in – getting lots out”Putting little in – getting lots out”

PLC (3)PLC (3)

High VoltageHigh Voltage Distribution networkDistribution network Power linesPower lines E.g. EskomE.g. Eskom

Low Voltage (What we are using)Low Voltage (What we are using) Building internal power circuitBuilding internal power circuit Power socketsPower sockets E.g. SNOE.g. SNO

Resources - PLCResources - PLC

““Glossy” company brochuresGlossy” company brochures General Information from websitesGeneral Information from websites Technical data is hard to come byTechnical data is hard to come by NDA’s & proprietary informationNDA’s & proprietary information

New technologyNew technology StandardsStandards

ConfusingConfusing different countries = different power regulationsdifferent countries = different power regulations

Hampered by over-regulation of power Hampered by over-regulation of power networksnetworks

Resources – Low LevelResources – Low Level

Possible areas I might have to look Possible areas I might have to look into:into:

Signal ProcessingSignal Processing Low voltage power circuits in the Low voltage power circuits in the

South African contextSouth African context 3-phase power circuits3-phase power circuits

Design ConsiderationsDesign Considerations

Initial decision on supplier decided Initial decision on supplier decided by market & funder’s considerationsby market & funder’s considerations AscomAscom

ADSL as the data linkADSL as the data link Match between bandwidthsMatch between bandwidths Ease of installEase of install Rapid roll-outRapid roll-out COE ProjectCOE Project

Design Considerations Design Considerations (cont…)(cont…)

Implementation in a Rhodes residenceImplementation in a Rhodes residence Large number of users to test withLarge number of users to test with ResNetResNet Cullen Bowles (CB) has been initially Cullen Bowles (CB) has been initially

chosen:chosen: ““Lego Land”Lego Land” All cement and everything is built-inAll cement and everything is built-in Difficulty in wiringDifficulty in wiring Not on IT’s Road Map so farNot on IT’s Road Map so far Far from campus, long walk to the labsFar from campus, long walk to the labs

AscomAscom

European CompanyEuropean Company Local Supplier already has systems Local Supplier already has systems

running in the countryrunning in the country

http://www.ascom.com/plc/http://www.ascom.com/plc/

Independent Independent Outdoor and Indoor Outdoor and Indoor

SystemsSystems

Indoor SystemIndoor SystemDSL

Line

Power Circuit

Master Unit

Adapters

Why 2 systems?Why 2 systems?

Provides a level of separation along Provides a level of separation along “responsibility boundaries”“responsibility boundaries” Utility Companies (Eskom & Telkom)Utility Companies (Eskom & Telkom) OwnerOwner

This Project only deals with the This Project only deals with the Internal SystemInternal System

Indoor SystemIndoor System

Consists of a couple of “plug-and-Consists of a couple of “plug-and-play” devices which build on each play” devices which build on each otherother

Two main devicesTwo main devices Indoor ControllerIndoor Controller Indoor Adapters (terminals)Indoor Adapters (terminals)

Master-Slave principlesMaster-Slave principles

The NetworkThe Network

Shared mediumShared medium Bandwidth currently 4.5 Mbits/sBandwidth currently 4.5 Mbits/s 20Mbits/s envisaged in the medium term20Mbits/s envisaged in the medium term Point-to-Multipoint principlePoint-to-Multipoint principle Flexible bandwidth managementFlexible bandwidth management Packet-switched data transferPacket-switched data transfer

AdapterAdapter

Like a modemLike a modem Plug into normal Plug into normal

power socketpower socket Standard Standard

interfacesinterfaces Ethernet, USBEthernet, USB telephonetelephone

ControllerController

AdministratorAdministrator GatewayGateway Time-slices bandwidthTime-slices bandwidth Configurable using Configurable using

DHCP and SNMPDHCP and SNMP

The Work.The Work.

Initial investigation into CB’s power Initial investigation into CB’s power plant and circuit infrastructure (done)plant and circuit infrastructure (done)

Design of a optimised PLC systemDesign of a optimised PLC system Order & Implement a base system for Order & Implement a base system for

testing and feasibility of original plantesting and feasibility of original plan Implement a full systemImplement a full system Test!Test!

1Design

5If (still budget)

&&!(thesis due)

4Test

3Implement

2Order newequipment

Expected OutcomesExpected Outcomes

Some of the things that will need to be investigatedSome of the things that will need to be investigated Time scale for deployment and configurationTime scale for deployment and configuration Costing considerationsCosting considerations Limits to the number of users/adaptersLimits to the number of users/adapters How the network handles:How the network handles:

Over-usage (students)Over-usage (students) ““Dirty” power and spikesDirty” power and spikes Other PLC systems like geyser controlOther PLC systems like geyser control

… … and the effect on the bandwidthand the effect on the bandwidth

A report on the feasibility of implementing a PLC network in combination with ADSL as a rapid deployment package to buildings that do not already have a data network infrastructure

Possible ExtensionsPossible Extensions

As this project is going to be a “work-As this project is going to be a “work-in-progress”, extensions can only in-progress”, extensions can only really be looked at later in the year. really be looked at later in the year.

But:But: 3-phase power in CB3-phase power in CB Continuing Education CentreContinuing Education Centre Link from Kimberly KitchenLink from Kimberly Kitchen

Questions?Questions?